high tsh related to celiac disease

[jolene2]

I am 26 years old and was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. I have been gluten free for about a month now. At the beginning of August I had blood work that showed results of a high tsh, 3rd generation of 4.93. Shortly after I officially started the gluten free diet. Now, I just had more blood work last week to check all my levels and the TSH is 5.61 (even higher). Is there a connection between celiac disease or gluten free diet and high tsh levels? Thanks for your time!

[nitesh7]

I  am having hypothyroid .
my TSH  was  102 in july2012.
Then  TSH  came down to 70 in aug2012.
Now at present TSH  is 12 on  8/sept/2012.
I  am  taking  Eltroxin 100 ( throxin tablets) daily .

On 6/sept/2012  my  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antibody , IgA , Serum ( EIA )  is  34.40 U/mL .

Am i suferring from Celiac disease .

Please Help me .


Regards ,
Nitesh Verma

[gimel]

You have attached your post to a very old thread.  You will get much more notice and response if you will please click on the orange Post a Question button at top of page and post your message again.  That will start a new thread under your own name.

[nitesh7]

I  am having hypothyroid .
my TSH  was  102 in july2012.
Then  TSH  came down to 70 in aug2012.
Now at present TSH  is 12 on  8/sept/2012.
I  am  taking  Eltroxin 100 ( throxin tablets) daily .

On 6/sept/2012  my  Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) Antibody , IgA , Serum ( EIA )  is  34.40 U/mL .

Am i suferring from Celiac disease .

Please Help me .


Regards ,
Nitesh Verma
***@****

[gimel]

It will be very helpful if you will also post the reference ranges shown on the lab report for those thyroid tests.  Did they also test you for the thyroid antibodies, TPO ab and Tg ab?  Something else we need to know about is how you are feeling.  Are you having hypo symptoms of any kind?

They are probably are considering medication based on your TSH, but it would be far better to base that decision on how you are feeling and your actual thyroid hormone levels  (free T3 and free T4).

[jolene2]

So finally talked to my doctor's office. Last week at my appointment I had to suggest to the doctor to do the T3 and T4 blood test. So thank you for suggesting that I request those. I think I was clear about them doing the Free T3 and T4, but we will see. Anyways, so the results of those two tests came back in the normal range, but I don't have the actually bloodwork (only the phone conversations with the nurse). I read the lab ranges may be more broad than what the actual "normal range" is, so maybe they aren't normal. I will have to post the numbers once I receive the report. They feel that they will put me on thyroid medication, but I'm not sure fully understand why... :-(

[gimel]

Just wanted to make sure that you were aware that TSH is a pituitary hormone that is affected by many variables, to the point that it is inadequate as a diagnostic by which to dose a thyroid patient.  At best TSH is an indicator, to be considered along with more important indicators such as symptoms, as well as the levels of the actual, biologically active thyroid hormones, free T3 and free T4.  FT3 is most important because it is the most active, plus studies have shown that FT3 correlates best with hypo symptoms.  TSH does not correlate with symptoms, and symptom relief should be all important.  With all that said, your TSH is above the currently recommended range of .3 - 3.0.  Do you have hypo symptoms consistent with that TSH result?  

When you go back to the doctor, i suggest that you request further testing to get a better assessment of your thyroid status.  Specifically, I would suggest tests for freeT3 and free T4 (not total T3 and total T4), thyroid antibodies (TPO ab TG ab),  Vitamin D and B12.  If the doctor resists, make sure to insist on it and don't take no for an answer.  You are the customer.

When results are available, I suggest that you get a copy and post results and reference ranges so that members can help interpret and advise further.  Doctors are required to  provide a copy upon your request.

As you proceed you will also find that that many doctors consider results anywhere within the reference ranges as being "normal" and don't want to do anything further.  Unfortunately, this is not the case because the ranges are far too broad.  Many members report that symptom relief for them required that FT3 was adjusted into the upper part of the range and FT4 adjusted to at least midpoint of its range.  So what your doctor considered as normal may not be adequate for you.

[jolene2]

I don't go to the doctor about the high TSH until Tuesday, so hopefully they will be able to figure out what is going on. (The gastrointestinalist that diagnosed me with celiac said i needed to see my regular physician for the high TSH).
Last year when I was dealing with iron deficiency anemia, low protein, calcium, etc. they did bloodwork for all the Thyroid things as that is a common cause. That all came back normal as well as a normal ultrasound of my throid. Now that I am officially celiac my TSH is High. I also looked back in my bloodwork that they did this July when they determined I most likely was Celiac, my TSH was only 2.68. From what i could see online the gluten free diet should help any thryoid problems, but in my case it almost seems like it is causing thyroid problems. I'm just so frustrated and confused about what is going on! Any insight is much appreciated!
Thanks for your input.

[Super_sally888]

Hypothyroid is often seen in people with celiac, as they are both autoimmune.

The gluten free diet hasn't made your TSH go higher, and you should continue with it (very important since you are celiac).

However you also need to be treated for the hypothyroid with thyroid hormone.

What has your doctor said.

[LazyMoose]

There are many opinions on this subject, just look at the archives here.

But, the opinions of most people that think it is related, will say gluten causes increased thyroid problems.  This is the opposite of what you are asking.

The most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimotos disease, which is detected buy high levels of specific antibodies attacking your thyroid. Have you not had thyroid antibody testing yet?

Hashimotos disease and under active thyroid (non-Hashi but similar) generally gets worse in time - most likely the reason for increasing TSH. Not uncommon at all.